This carnivore whale crane discovered in Peru at 36 million years old

ANIMAUX – Gargantuesque. Here is the Basilosaurus, or ancient Greek royal resume. This gigantic prehistoric basin measures between 15 and 20 meters for a weight of around 60 tons. Beau bébé donc. But despite telling dimensions, no fossil as well as its crane had been found for the moment.

C’est Maintenant gewielt faite. On Thursday, March 17, paleontologists at the University of San Marcos University in Peru presented a new fossil of this species. This work is untitled, potentially revealing a new species.

“One of the Greatest Predecessors of the Era”

In the wake of the end of the Eocene (36 million years ago), the Basilosaurus reunited several subspecies and was “one of the greatest predators of its time”, says Rodolfo Salas-Gismondi, responsible for the team of paleontologists in the origin of this discovery.

At the summit of the food chain, these animals in the terrifying mahogany were endangered hunters, feeding on imposing prey. No sardines on the menu then, but rather able-bodied waist straps to replenish their stoma, like Dorudons’ jewels or young ones (of a similar size to our current dauphins).

A potentially new species?

This fossil, a complete crane, was discovered at the end of 2021 in the Ocucaje Desert, 350 km south of Lima. It is titled eenzeg. In fact, as explained by Mario Urbina, a member of the paleontology team at the University of San Marcos University, “there is no similar specimen discovered in the world.”

Another point important, Roberto Salas-Gismondi affirmed that “this discovery is extremely important, because the crane is in a perfect state of Conservation. Its teeth are complete”. The question of a potential new species of Basilosaure is also posed.

This is in fact what the person in charge of the paleontologist’s team at the origin of the discovery of this fossil named the “Predator of Ocucaje” indicates. Concluding the presentation of this new fossil, the paleontologist adds that “the discoveries as this new specimen indicate to us that many things remain to be studied”.

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